Giant Defy (the 1 is 999) is the standard STW answer. Wouldn't get too worked up about it being an alu frame and not carbon, it's a lovely riding bike. Get down a Giant dealer and sort out a test ride and see how it compares. (Ah, I see you already have.)

I also test rode a composite Giant Defy which was way too high- more like a mountain bike. So a middle-ground is good.

Right size? Properly fitted? Usually sent out with a big stack of spacers under the stem.

By the way, on the current bike you could get a quill stem adapter and add some spacers, a different stem and more contemporary bars, which could make a big difference (aesthetics aside.) I've done something similar to my old road bike that's used as my turbo bike.

all this crap people trot out about keeping the uncomfortable bike and improving your core strength. It;s the same sort of bollox as skiers would spout 15 years ago talking about how you needed skis body height + 10 cm or whatever it was.

Ignore them and buy a comfy bike.

And I'd be cautious about the Boardman. I tried one in the carpark and it was hideously uncomfy. I nearly bought it anyway thinking all road bikes were like that. Luckily I didn't, bought a Domane instead and it's brilliant. Best bike I've ever had.

And I'd be cautious about the Boardman. I tried one in the carpark and it was hideously uncomfy

LOL.

all this crap people trot out about keeping the uncomfortable bike and improving your core strength. It;s the same sort of bollox as skiers would spout 15 years ago talking about how you needed skis body height + 10 cm or whatever it was.

Ignore them and buy a comfy bike.

he’s had the bike a couple of weeks, get a few hundred miles under the belt (and lose some of the flab) and your position will get lower and the neck/arm ache will go as you get stronger/lighter/fitter and the bike more comfortable (if it’s the right size/geometry for you)
by all means get an upright nodder bike if it’s just a 30mile pootle to the pub but looking at the pic there’s hardly any saddle to bar drop at all.

There's such a range of adjustment that can be made to a bike provided the frame size is a reasonable choice. Even if you get one that's comfy now, over time you can swap the stem (different length, rise, drop), change the bars (shape, width), fiddle with the stack height, saddle position (fore/aft) and height, change the saddle for a different shape, shifter positions, crank length. You'll be lucky to find one where everything is right for you off the peg though. And all these things you will probably want to tweak over time too if you are new to it all.

Though given there is so much scope for adjustment, this is probably not bad advice...

by all means get an upright nodder bike if it’s just a 30mile pootle to the pub

I managed the Fred Whitton on an upright nodder bike. A Boardman hybrid. Not sure it would have been anything like as pleasant on one of those curly handlebar Boardmans though.

Sorry, I'm going off on one again. But I did genuinely feel that the Boardman road bike was pretty uncomfortable. And if Hora is the type of person to stop at the pub half way round a 27 mile training route then I think he will too

Is the saddle level on your bike? Putting too much weight on the wrists? Reach too far? Road bikes don't have to be uncomfortable.

How can a Defy be "too high". I don't follow. The BB on mine is 0.75cm higher than my Propel. I can't say I've really noticed the difference at 27mph in a bunch. And bars can drop a lot lower than my relative -7cm to the saddle.

EDIT Slamming a stem on the CAAD8 . I had to do that just to get my (modest) bar position. It's the only slammed bike I've ever ridden . Great bike provided the BB30 is greased properly.

TiRed, if your reading I've got a question. I've got a Boardman at the minute, which I believe is the same geo as the TCR, which I ride with 20mm of spacers. I'm looking at buying a Defy and wondered what size stem your running as the stock M/L bike I demoed had a 100mm and about 35mm of spacers and felt very upright and a bit cramped like hora says.